SERUM PROTEINS IN CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER

Abstract

Filinski1reported that in diseases of liver, such as cirrhosis, catarrhal jaundice, amyloidosis and carcinomatosis from primary carcinoma of bile duct, albumin-globulin ratio of serum was reversed. He concluded that alterations in serum protein values were due to pathologic changes in liver. In many subsequent reports containing single observations on serum proteins of patients with cirrhosis of liver, authors2agreed that albumin-globulin ratio may be reversed in presence of this disease. However, it has not been clear what relation changes in serum protein bear to course of disease and to formation of ascites. Snell2ehas stated that the ratio tends to return to normal as improvement takes place, although he has not published data pertinent to this observation. Foley, Keeton, Kendrick and Darling2hreported data on 1 patient with cirrhosis of liver and ascites